Lot 160: Andre-Marie Ampere

Lot 160: Influential French physicist (1775–1836) who pioneered the discovery and understanding of electromagnetism; a unit of electric current was named in his honor. ALS in French, signed "A. Ampere," one page, 7.25 x 9.5, October 1, 1826. Letter to Mademoiselle Cuvier "in the garden of plants," apologizing for delaying in seeing his friend Cuvier and expressing hope that he may be permitted to visit that evening and show a scientific instrument, (translated) "otherwise I will leave it at home…I beg you to offer my best wishes for his successful journey and his speedy return." In fine condition, with a couple trivial brushes to ink. Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope addressed in his own hand. The recipient was presumably the wife of important French naturalist and zoologist Georges Cuvier who at the time was serving as director of the National Museum of Natural History in France, the home of an enormous and important botanical garden. Ampere may be referring to a device used to measure electrical current, such as an ammeter or early galvanometer.
RR Auction's Fine Autographs and Artifacts Auction 453
Sunday, 17th May 2015
Estimate: $3000-4000